EARLY Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup leaders NLEX Road Warriors gun for their third win in a row when they play tournament-debuting Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok in the main game today at 7 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Hot off the starting blocks notwithstanding the absence of key personnel for varying reasons to begin their campaign in the season-ending PBA tournament, the Road Warriors look to sustain their good form to date and stack up victories to give themselves more ground until they are back with a full complement.
Playing sans head coach Yeng Guiao and veteran big man Asi Taulava who are in the Asian Games in Indonesia right now and guards Kevin Alas (injury) and Kiefer Ravena (FIBA suspension), NLEX is managing to rack up victories with a total team effort under the baton of interim coach Jojo Lastimosa.
In their most recent victory, a 123-107 mastery of NorthPort Batang Pier on Aug. 19, the Road Warriors saw eight players score eight points or more, which proved to be too much to handle for their opponents.
Import Olu Ashaolu led the way for NLEX with 27 points and 13 rebounds with Larry Fonacier and Mark Tallo adding 14 points apiece.
JR Quinahan had 12 while Kenneth Ighalo had 11, and Juami Tiongson and Alex Mallari with 10 each.
Cyrus Baguio had eight points off the bench.
NLEX, however, will be playing with a replacement import in Aaron Fuller against Magnolia as Mr. Ashaolu rehabs his injured right knee.
Mr. Fuller will take over for Mr. Ashaolu until the latter is ready to play once again in the tournament.
In the absence of their original import, the Road Warriors will be banking on NLEX-returning Fuller and the rest of their local crew, including Mr. Tallo, who was named player of the week for his splendid play so far under NLEX.
Picked up from the free-agent pool by the Road Warriors, Mr. Tallo has been steady for 15 points, 2.5 rebounds and two assists per game in his new team’s first two assignments.
Out to put a stop to NLEX’s streak, meanwhile, are the Hotshots, who are off a disappointing finish in the previous tournament where they were eliminated in the quarterfinals.
Magnolia will be bannered by import Romeo Travis, who previously played for the Alaska Aces in 2015 and posted numbers of 24.1 points, 12.6 rebounds and three assists en route to winning the best import award in the Governors’ Cup.
Like NLEX, Magnolia will be without a key piece to start its campaign as guard Paul Lee, too, is playing in the Asiad.
Opening PBA action today at 4:30 p.m. is the clash between the Phoenix Fuel Masters and Columbian Dyip.
The game will mark the Phoenix debut of All-Star forward Calvin Abueva, who the team got in the in-between conference break from Alaska.
Columbian (0-1), meanwhile, seeks to bounce back after opening its tournament bid with a loss. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
